Need Assistance With Contacting Parks

[+JustBastet]

Hello! I searched the forum and didn't find this answered (but could of skimmed right by it). My husband and I are looking to place caches in the panhandle of WV where we recently moved. What is the best way to approach the park system for permission. Is there a letter out there we can use and modify? We want to play up the cache in trash out since that is what we do. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We look forward to hiding our first caches soon!

 

Bastet

[+briansnat]

Most parks have a sign stating what activities are not allowed. Read the sign and look for Geocaching.

[+robert]

Might try calling them or stopping by, bring a sample cache (clear container preferably), and ask them about it directly. Maybe even take them out with you to hide it, and pick up trash along the way while explaining CITO. They may already be aware of geocaching so might not need to do all that.

 

A letter may get lost, and showing them the cache as well as your smiling faces goes a long way.

[+briansnat]

My feelings about begging our government for permission to do something that is not illegal, or even regulated have been stated frequently here. For every success story about someone who asked for permission, there is one of someone who was told no, or told "Sure, but we need a 1 million dollar liability policy and the cache is only allowed to be there for one day" or some other ridiculious stipulations.

 

But if you feel you must plead, here is a letter that I put together for someone else:

 

Dear _______:

 

I'm writing to request permission to place a geocache in _______. If you are

not familiar with the term geocache, it's the focal point of a sport called geocaching.

Geocaching entails a person hiding a small container (the geocache), usually containing a log book and trinkets, then using a Global Positioning System receiver (GPSr) to mark the longititude and latitude of the geocache. The coordinates are then published on the Internet to allow others to find it.

 

Geocaching is a fun, family oriented activity that has the benefit of getting

people outdoors and introducing them to areas of historic, natural, or scenic interest.

 

Managers of many parks and nature preserves have determined that geocaching is a

beneficial activity and encourage the sport on their lands. They see the

additional visitors and increased exposure that geocaching brings as a plus.

Similarly, geocachers often discover exciting new places through the sport,

while getting exercise and gaining an appreciation of these areas.

 

I believe that ________ is one of the special places that would be of interest

to geocachers and would like to discuss the possibility of my placing a

geocache there. Please contact me at_________ to discuss this.

 

Thank You,

 

But be aware that by forcing a government bureaucrat to explicitly sanction geocaching, its quite possible that your answer will be no and you could jeopardize caches already placed by others in the area. The NY state DEC's effective statewide ban on geocaching came about when someone opened a dialogue to obtain permission.

Edited July 6, 2004 by briansnat

[+DeskJocky]

Your very friendly local approver can always answer some questions concerning cache placements and permit requirements. Keystone Approver is the approver covering the Northern Panhandle of WV. He answered all my questions concerning placement of caches in West Virginia...

[+JustBastet]

Thanks for the replies - I was under the impression that in order to get your cache approved by geocaching.com - it had to have permission. If I am reading some posts correctly - the answer is not really and maybe I shouldn't bring it up ....

 

I have no problem just hiding one and registering it - I just wanted to make sure it would get approved. I don't want to be the one to create a ban! I will look for signs to see if it is expressly forbidden and then maybe just go for it.

 

If Keystone Approver has any feedback - I would love to hear it.

 

Thanks.

[+Renegade Knight]

Thanks for the replies - I was under the impression that in order to get your cache approved by geocaching.com - it had to have permission. If I am reading some posts correctly - the answer is not really and maybe I shouldn't bring it up ....

 

I have no problem just hiding one and registering it - I just wanted to make sure it would get approved. I don't want to be the one to create a ban! I will look for signs to see if it is expressly forbidden and then maybe just go for it.

 

If Keystone Approver has any feedback - I would love to hear it.

 

Thanks.

Look at it another way. Adequate permission (can't spell that) means if permission is needed get it. If it's not needed, then you already have it.

[+norbu]

write climberx and ask him, he is a park ranger! He also wrote the geocaching policy for the park he works in, SDRP in San Diego County. It is up on http://geocachingpolicy.info/, which is also a great resource when speaking with higher-ups in the park systems.

 

edited to fix URL...

Edited July 6, 2004 by norbu

[+briansnat]

Thanks for the replies - I was under the impression that in order to get your cache approved by geocaching.com - it had to have permission. If I am reading some posts correctly - the answer is not really and maybe I shouldn't bring it up ....

 

I have no problem just hiding one and registering it - I just wanted to make sure it would get approved. I don't want to be the one to create a ban! I will look for signs to see if it is expressly forbidden and then maybe just go for it.

 

If Keystone Approver has any feedback - I would love to hear it.

 

Permission is required wherever there is a policy in place that requires permission.

It's also required for placement on private property. If the land is public and there is no geocaching policy, it is assumed that you have "adequate permission".

[+norbu]

Remember though, that Policies and Rules are not always posted on every access or trail into an area that may have policies. It is usually OK, as long as you aren't placing caches that will create a lot of spur or social trails, because that is usually the biggest issue in parks areas. At least is was in SDRP. because of protected habitats. If geocaching hadn't caused such a problem in that respect, SDRP would have taken a completely different approach.

 

Even when SDRP DID post at cache sites, that no geocaching was allowed, some locals chose to ignore that and vandalized the signs. That was a big bummer. Fortunately the majority have been great in supporting the SDRP and their new policy.

[+JMBella]

You can also check the parks website as well. Usually a comprehensive list of rules will be posted there. Do you have a particular park or parks in mind? If it's a National Park or Wildlife refuge then forget it. Other than that, check the website, literature and signs. If nothing is stated about geocaching it should be safe to hide as per the geocaching.com guidelines.

[+JustBastet]

Thanks again for everyone's response. I have checked the park's website and it looks good - nothing specific. I will verify nothing is posted at the park itself and I should hopefully have a series of caches up here soon to explore Jefferson county!

[Keystone]

If you are looking to place a cache in a West Virginia State Park (for example, Tomlinson Run State Park in the WV panhandle), then you will need a permit from the WV Department of Natural Resources. All the details can be found here on the DNR's geocaching webpage.

 

Another good place to hide geocaches is in Wildlife Management Areas. Except for four WMA's that have recreational facilities managed by the State Parks people, no permit is needed before hiding a cache in a West Virginia WMA. (Source: e-mail to me from the DNR official responsible for their geocaching policy.)

 

If you are looking to hide a cache in a county, city or town park, these park systems often do not have published policies. When I have no published policy to check against, it is totally up to the cache owner to obtain "adequate permission" as stated in the geocache listing requirements.

 

Hope this helps, and I look forward to seeing your new cache submissions (and later on, finding them!)

Edited July 7, 2004 by Keystone Approver